Today in History: Thrust Beats Sound — Twice

October 13, 1997

Ten years ago today, less than three weeks after topping 700 mph in the jet-powered Thrust SuperSonic vehicle, British fighter pilot Andy Green smashed the sound barrier along a one-mile course in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Under the guidance of former land-speed record-holder and Thrust team leader Richard Noble, Green hit 764.168 mph, or 1.007 percent above the speed of the sound. Sixty-one minutes later, Green swept across Black Rock at a speed 1.003 percent faster than sound. Unfortunately, however, because the second run came one minute late, the Thrust team wouldn’t own the official record until two days later. On October 15, 1997, the Thrust hit 759.333 mph on its first run and a stunning 766.109 mph on its second pass, about thirty minutes later.

It’s worth noting that October 14 is the date in 1947 when Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, in the rocket-powered Bell X-1 aircraft.

Check out a photo of the Thrust smashing the sound barrier, after the break.